Attorneys: annual membership fees.

Existing law, the State Bar Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California, a public corporation. The State Bar is governed by a board of trustees. Existing law authorizes the board, among other duties, to aid in all matters pertaining to the improvement of the administration of justice, including all matters that may advance the professional interests of the members of the State Bar. Existing law, until January 1, 2015, requires the board to charge an annual membership fee for active members of up to $315 for 2014. Existing law requires the board to charge an annual membership fee for inactive members of up to $75. This bill would, until January 1, 2016, require the board to charge the annual membership fee for active members described above for 2015. Existing law requires, within the period of 90 days next preceding the annual meeting, the board, at a meeting called for that purpose, to elect the president, vice president, and treasurer for the ensuing year. The president, the vice president, and the treasurer are to be elected from among all members of the board. This bill, if the president is elected from among those members of the board whose terms on the board expire that year and has not been reelected or reappointed to another term, as provided, would require the president to serve as a 20th member of the board during his or her one-year term and would authorize him or her to vote. Existing law requires the board to increase each of the annual membership fees described above by an additional $30, to be allocated only to support nonprofit organizations that provide free legal services to persons of limited means, except to the extent that a member elects not to support those activities. Existing law requires that the invoice provided to members for payment of the annual membership fee provide each member the option of deducting $30 from the annual membership fee if the member elects not to have this amount allocated for these purposes. This bill would increase that optional, additional amount to $40. The bill would require that all funds received for these programs be distributed to qualified legal services projects and support centers without deduction for administrative fees, costs, or expenses by the State Bar, and would require that fees, costs, or expenses associated with administering these provisions be absorbed within the costs allowed by and paid from specified funds. The bill would also require that the net proceeds from the sale or lease of real property, after payment of obligations and encumbrances and reasonable costs of acquiring and relocating its facilities, if any, be held by the State Bar without expenditure or commitment for any purpose until approved by the Legislature by statute.